Hello and thanks for stopping by today. Recently I got into coloring while I was recovering from being in the hospital. A friend of mine brought me some mandala patterns to color and I was hooked. Getting lost in the pattern and creating something of beauty was something I really enjoyed. I even downloaded an app for my Kindle so that I could color them.
http://www.mandalaproject.org/What/Main.html
Just a couple of mandalas I have colored on my Kindle.
A Bit About Mandalas
While I enjoy mandalas for their beauty, the mandala has a spiritual background. In the classical Indian language of Sanskrit, mandala is loosely translated as circle. It is a representation of the universe and a model for the organization of life. The ancients and today’s followers of Buddhism and other religions look upon a mandala as a reminder of man’s relation to the infinite.
Mandalas are thought of as symbols of wholeness and a world that extends within and beyond our minds and bodies. They are also believed to appear in all aspects of life and the celestial circles of the moon, sun, and earth as well as the concepts of family, friends, and community.
Although mandalas are widely used in Eastern religions, examples of them can be found in many cultures throughout the world. The 12th century Catholic nun, Hildegard von Bingen, created beautiful mandalas to express her beliefs and visions. Several cultures and religions use labyrinths as meditation devices. Native Americans have medicine wheels and sand mandalas as a part of their culture. The Aztecs used elaborate mandalas as timekeeping devices and for religious expression. You can also find examples of mandalas in architecture all over the world. The elaborate circular stained-glass windows in many churches and cathedrals are forms of mandalas.
Labyrinth in an ancient cathedral
Both Tibetan monks and Navajo Indians create intricate mandalas out of sand and precious stones. Once these mandalas are created a in a ceremony which can last for many days, the mandalas are then swept away. The creation and destruction of the mandalas are a representation of the circle of life.
Tibetan Buddhist monks at Drepung Loseling Monestary in Atlanta, GA prepare a special sand mandala for the arrival of H.H. the Dalai Lama. (2010)
I thought you’d enjoy a bit of a background about mandalas before we got to the patterns I’ve designed. The patterns can be strictly decorative, or you could use them as pot holders or coasters. No matter how you use them, I hope you enjoy crocheting these patterns as much as I enjoyed designing them.
Stitches Used
You won’t need to know any advanced or fancy stitches to crochet the following mandala patterns. Here are the stitches I’ve used:
Chain stitch – ch
Single crochet – sc
Slip stitch – sl st
Double crochet – dc
Long double crochet (also known as the spike stitch) – ldc
V stitch – V st
Double crochet 3 together – dc3tog
Cluster stitch – cl st
Puff stitch – puff st
Magic Ring
Long Double Crochet Stitch
The long double crochet stitch is worked exactly like a double crochet stitch except you insert the hook into the stitch one row below the active row. Pull the yarn up even with the top of the active stitches to keep the row even.
V Stitch
A V stitch are the stitches (double crochet, chain 1, double crochet) all worked into the same space.
Double Crochet 3 Together
Yarn over and insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook. Repeat this twice. You will have 4 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops at once, chain 1 to lock stitch.
Cluster Stitch
A cluster stitch is worked by yarn over, insert the hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook. Now stop, don’t finish the double crochet stitch. Yarn over and insert the hook into the same stitch, yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook. There will now be 3 loops on the hook. Repeat the process twice and you will end up with 5 loops on the hook. Yarn over and draw through all 5 loops at once. Chain one to lock stitch. The chain one forms the “eye” of the cluster stitch.
Puff Stitch
The puff stitch, is similar to the cluster stitch. Yarn over and insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over and draw through. Do not draw the yarn through any of the loops on the hook. Yarn over and insert the hook into the same stitch, yarn over and draw through. Repeat this twice more. Yarn over and pull the yarn through all of the loops on the hook at once. Chain one to lock the stitch.
Magic Ring
The magic ring gives you a nice tight center to the mandalas. Begin by wrapping the yarn around your index and middle finger of your left hand. The loose tail should be draped over your fingers and held toward you.
Insert the hook under the right hand loop which is draped over your index finger. Grab the yarn and pull it through the loop.
Yarn over and pull it through the two loops on your hook. This is the first single crochet. You can also use double crochet stitches to form a magic ring.
Continue to work your first round of stitches into the center of the ring. Be sure to capture both strands of yarn which form the loop into the stitches.
Once you have the correct number of stitches pull the loose yarn to close up the ring. Join the ring with a slip stitch and you have your first round of stitches.
If you need to brush up on your basic crochet stitches, or need to learn how to crochet, check out Crochet Tutorial #1 – Basic Crochet Stitches. Now on to the free crochet mandala patterns.
I used some Red Heart Super Saver yarn in assorted colors from my stash. These would also be pretty crocheted in cotton yarn. You could also crochet these patterns in crochet thread and make lovely doilies or wall art.
Spiked Mandala
This pattern uses long double crochet stitches to add interest to the center of the mandala. Puff stitches are used to add even more texture and interest.
Magic ring – ch3, 12 dc into ring, join
Round 1: ch3, 2dc into each st, join
Round 2: ch3, dc into next st *ldc into next st, 2dc into next st* rep around, join
Round 3: ch1 *sc, ch1* rep around, join in ch1
Round 4: ch3, puff st into next st *puff st into each ch1 sp, ch1* rep around, join in 3rd ch st
Round 5: ch1 *sc into each eye of puff sts, sc into each ch1 sp* join
Round 6: *ch3, sk1 st, sc into next st* rep around, join in 1st ch st
Round 7: sl st into 1st ch3 sp *ch3, sc into next ch3 sp* rep around, join in sl st, break yarn and weave in tails
Wagon Wheel Mandala
The center of this mandala reminds me of a wagon wheel.
Chain 6, join
Round 1: ch1, 12 into ring, join
Round 2: ch4 *dc, ch1* rep around, join in 3rd ch
Round 3: ch4, dc into same sp *dc into ch1 sp, 2dc into dc st* join in 3rd ch
Round 4: ch4 *dc, ch1* rep around, join in 3rd ch
Round 5: ch3, 4dc into same sp *sk 2 sts, sc into next st, sk 2 sts, 5dc into next st* rep around, sk 2 sts, join in 3rd chain, break yarn and weave in tails
V Stitch Mandala
V stitches are used to crochet an open and airy mandala.
Magic ring – ch3, 12 dc into ring, join
Round 1: ch4, dc into same sp *sk1 st, V st into next st, ch2* join into 3rd ch
Round 2: *ch1, dc into ch2 sp, ch1, V st into V st* rep to last st, ch1, join into 3rd ch
Round 3: ch1, sc around working 2sc into each ch1 sp before and after dc sts, join in ch1
Round 4: ch3, dc2tog in same sp *ch3, sc into next st, ch3, dc3tog* rep around, join in 3rd chain, break yarn and weave in tails
Cluster Stitch Mandala
This pattern makes a bit of a larger mandala than the others. I like how the colors contrast.
Magic ring – ch1, 9sc into ring
Round 1: ch1 *cl st, ch1* rep around, join in ch1
Round 2: ch1 *sc into eye of cl st, 2sc into ch1* rep around, join in ch1
Round 3: ch3, cl st into each sc, join in 3rd ch st
Round 4: ch1, sc in same sp *2sc between each cl st* rep around, join in ch1
Round 5: ch1, sc into same sp *2sc between each 2sc group* rep around, join in ch1
Round 6 & 7: Repeat Round 5
Round 8: ch1, cl st between each set of 2sc, join in ch1
Round 9: *ch3, sc between cl st* rep around join in 1st ch
Round 10: *ch3, sc into next ch3 sp* rep around, join in 1st ch, break yarn, weave in tails
Flowery Mandala
Chain 3 spaces and shells give this mandala a lot of interest. I kind of reminds me of a flower.
Magic ring – ch3, 12 dc into ring, join
Round 1: ch1, sc into each st around, join in ch1
Round 2: *ch3, sk 1 st, sc* rep around, join with sl st into 1st ch
Round 3: sl st into 1st ch3 sp *ch3, sc into ch3 sp* rep around, join into sl st
Round 4 & 5: Repeat Round 3
Round 6: join new color or sl st into ch3 sp, ch3, 4dc into same ch3 sp *ch1, sc into next ch3 sp, ch1, 5dc into next ch3 sp* rep around, work a sc into the sc st, join in 3rd ch (I had to cheat because there was one ch3 sp short but unless you look really hard at it, you can’t tell.)
Round 7: sl st or join new color in the 3rd dc of a shell *ch7, sc into 3rd st of the next shell* rep around, ch7, join in sl st
Round 8: sc into 1st sc *into ch7 sp work 2sc, 2hdc, 2dc, 2hdc, 2sc, sc into sc st* rep around join into sc
Round 9: ch1, sc into each st around, join in ch1
Round 10: *ch3, sk 1 st, sc* rep around, join in 1st ch, break yarn and weave in tails
End Notes
Mandalas are universal symbols of peace and connectivity. Crochet is a meditative craft. Combine the two and you have a lovely way to pass the time. My hope is that these patterns help you to relax and find your center. While you crochet, try to be mindful of what you are doing right at that moment. Don’t let your mind wander to the past or the future. Enjoy what you are doing in the here and now.
Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you like these five free crochet mandala patterns. I have tried to make sure these patterns are error free, but if you find any errors or have a question about the pattern please let me know in the comments. Please feel free to sell any items you make with my patterns, but if you want to share the pattern please share the link to the pattern page.
Until next time, take care and keep on hooking!
